Revealed: Colon Street Then And Now

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Named after Christopher Columbus himself, Colon Street is the oldest street in the Philippines built by the Spaniards during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. It’s located right in the heart of downtown Cebu with a line full of movie houses, department stores, restaurants and other business establishments.

Back in the days when it was first developed by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the avenue became the center for commercial activities in downtown Cebu. Through the years, it remained as the lifeline of trade and commerce of the city. It was in this street where the first few business establishments and offices were erected and flourished. It was also full of heart and soul as most significant happenings such as social and cultural events took place here. The rise and fall of Cebu’s economic and political competence is evident in the transformation of this very street.

1990 marked the entrance of the malling culture of America in Cebu. Malls simultaneously sprung out all over the city, leaving the businesses along the street of Colon threatened. Businesses did suffer significant losses due to the decrease in customers and shoppers along the once-busy street. A number of establishments even had to close down. Given the heat of the city, shoppers preferred a more relaxing ambiance with air-conditioning, which was not offered by the alley of Colon. It was only during recent years that the streets regained popularity due to the selling of cheap merchandise and reasonably priced goods from many of its bargain stores. People slowly began coming back to Colon in search of affordable and economical goods, as a result. It was even labeled as an “easy on the pocket” spot for shopping by business owners.

More than just the center of economy and trade, several universities were built along this street. Some of these are the University of Cebu, University of San Carlos, University of Visayas and the University of San Jose-Recoletos. The Colon Street of today has a lineup of quite a few notable commercial establishments. Investors have always believed that profit is attained halfway if they invest their business along this street. Public transportation such as jeepneys, buses and taxies have flocked to this area, replacing the horse-drawn carriages more popularly referred to as calesa.

Looking at it now, it seems that Colon never really lost its touch as the haven for bargain hunters. Both old and new establishments along the street offer far cheaper prices compared to their counterparts in malls, making them the primary destination for most shoppers. Colon Street is certainly a one-stop shop when you need to buy anything with affordable price tags.

The only real downside to it arises from its many virtues, in fact: Colon Street is a congested alley for shoppers who are all out to get good value for their money. If you are willing to brave the hordes, it’s certainly a place where you can buy everything you want and need in the city. This busy road is easily one of your must-see destinations when you travel to Cebu.

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